The Great Starvation Experiment

[Guest guest]

We've discussed Dr. Ancel Keys' World War II program to learn how to

combat the mass starvation expected after World War II ended. His

method? Subjecting volunteer conscientious objectors to extreme CR.

The Diane Rehm Show had an interesting interview of Todd Tucker,

author of the " The Great Starvation Experiment, " a new book on the

experiment and its long term effects on the participants.

http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/06/05/02.php#10258

The book is at Amazon at:

http://tinyurl.com/oo5ab

From Publishers Weekly

As WWII neared an end, 36 idealistic conscientious objectors,

members of the Civilian Public Service, volunteered to be

systematically starved. The project, headed by Dr. Ancel Keys, was

designed to develop an understanding of the physiology and

psychology of starvation and to provide strategies to manage the

mass starvation that might follow the war's end in Europe. Tucker

(Notre Dame vs. the Klan) provides a fascinating and moving history

of the experiment, centering on the lives and experiences of the

volunteers and the formidable obstacles they overcame. Tucker tells

the story with verve and economy, providing provocative discussions

on subjects ranging from the ethical problems inherent in the use of

human volunteers to the history of cannibalism and the conscientious

objector movement. One strength of the book is the tension and drama

evident as the subjects struggle with their hunger. Another strength

is the charismatic Dr. Keys (who invented the K ration), an

accomplished man who combined compassion and intelligence with an

unquenchable desire to advance learning (he later raised the first

alarms about the dangers of cholesterol and fat in the American

diet). Keys, his experiment and his 36 starving men form a

compelling combination. 8 pages of b & w photos. (May 2)

Mike